Firm Picked to Rebuild Tornado-Damaged Hangars

EL RENO, Olka. -- The El Reno Airpark Authority has recommended a construction firm to repair the tornado-damaged city airport.

The authority voted unanimously to recommend Johnson & Hunt Construction, Inc., which submitted the total low bid of $382,912. Others submitting bids were Miller-Tippens Construction Co. LLC and Diversified Construction of Oklahoma, Inc.

Two hangars at El Reno Regional Airport were damaged beyond use in an April tornado. The city has suffered loss of revenue since, airport manager Rick Mullaney said.

"We're hanging in there," Mullaney said Monday. "We are trying to keep surviving until we can get some airplanes in there."

The authority's recommendation was approved 5-0 on Thursday night by its board of trustees. The recommendation will be considered by the city council at a council meeting Feb. 6, said Vera Mae Morse, the board's secretary.

Once approved by the council, work is expected to take six to eight months.

The authority also approved a payment of $155,980 to Young General Constructors LLC. The construction firm has a $232,079 contract to repair, seal, coat and mark the taxiway.

Mullaney said he hopes the airport is back to full operation by August.

One of the heavily damaged hangars had been completed just days before the tornado hit April 24.

The city council in September approved financial assistance of about $42,400 to the airport to make up for the loss of revenue until the repairs can be made. The council also approved $25,000 from the general fund in December and an additional $25,000 from the general fund this month.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.